Enjoy.

The Packing Couple

Xe’Reth steadily walks on the cobblestoned street leading to the slums of the city while people are becoming scarce as further as he goes. Since he still has his hood over his head, nobody recognizes him, even the city-guard patrolling the outer layer who has seen him on regular basis doesn’t bat an eye at him walking with a sinister aura while carrying large bags. They can be cowards that are too scared for their own good, only when they’re in groups is the time to act tough, though when they’re out on single patrol they’re as harmless as a babe.

‘I hope Malinda haven’t waited long,’ Xe’Reth thought moodily while walking through the now empty street. Rain drops bombards the lane making pools of water, and various people are standing by their windows looking out at this broody weather as they sigh in disappointment since this was supposed to be a day of celebration. Though it has now been ruined by the water drops that showers down from the sky.

The houses on either side of the avenue are single homes with alleyways running all over the slums. Some are larger than others, but they’re still standalone houses with three to two levels in height. The first floor is usually made out of stone, then it’s built upon with Ellenwood so more people can fit into the crampy households.

Xe’Reth’s house has only two rooms and no other level. It has only the kitchen and the bedroom. The house isn’t connected to any other house, and since its position is by the street, it gets heavy traffic of poor people. Some folks had even slept beside his house a couple of times in the alleyways, but they never dared to do it again when Xe’Reth had told them off, because their filth and sicknesses could’ve easily spread into the house if they were to linger, in the process, it could’ve made his mother even sicker.

The footsteps of his feet splashes the ground as he keeps on striding with his proud posture of villainy that gives the folks in the windows second thoughts of yelling out at the single person walking towards the slums.

Because there is rain, the poor people are careful to not get hit by its chilling effect since it can easily make them sick. It’s why the streets are so empty, none is brave enough to venture out into the weather to catch a cold, which could spread throughout the slums. Though some people are curled up outside as their bodies shudders from the cold.

A noise begins to resound behind Xe’Reth, many hooves with grinding wheels follows the assault on the cobblestones.

*Whistle*

“Out of the way, DLO business!” a carriage-sitting man roared while waving his hand violently at Xe’Reth, for he’s walking in the middle of the lane, carefree.

“Oh wow,” Xe’Reth said while treading to the side as two carriages and five riders’ gallops by him in great speed; splashing water as they soar by him. “Well… it looks like some unlucky bastard is going to be arrested.”

Worry shoots through him as he scowls at the location where they’re going, but he sighs out in relief as they make a left turn, away from his area of the slums, which makes him continue to walk towards the west graveyard, to his homestead.

The boulevard that he’s walking on is broad, straight and long. It’s the main street that goes from the east side to the west side of the outer layer’s crescent form. And Xe’Reth had just walked by the rowdy market a couple of minutes ago. It was still filled with life because the better-off people doesn’t mind the rain for they’ve it better than the poor. A visit to the healer can effortlessly cure the simplest diseases that goes around, so the city is still pretty much livid with life.

Xe’Reth turns again as he hears additional hooves galloping in rapid movements; stragglers of the DLO. They gallop past Xe’Reth without even looking at him. With a sigh, Xe’Reth turns once more to begin walking to his home. But after a couple of minutes, hooves and wheels resounds behind him yet again.

Though this time, his eyes turns wide in astonishment as Malinda’s golden carriage drives in its booming speed. Xe’Reth of course removes his dark hood to show that it’s him, but as Taryna sees the young man there beside the lane waving with his hands, a frown and a smile sprouts forth on her face as the carriage doesn’t stop. Instead, it drives closer to the side where Xe’Reth stands while the horses’ neighs as they speed up.

The rain has poured down immensely, so pools of water has formed all around the area, but the pool by Xe’Reth is somewhat large.

While seeing the menacing eyes of Taryna as she drives the horses towards him in full speed, he quickly looks down at the gigantic pool that’s right beside him, he scowls with wide eyes. Then his head turns back to Taryna. Xe’Reth begins to shake his skull violently, but she nods up and down with an inward laugh which can be seen upon her grinning mouth as the carriage comes closer and closer to him.

*Swoosh*

The golden carriage drives by him as it splashes water from its four large wheels on both sides. Taryna hastily turns her body to see the drenched Xe’Reth, but he isn’t there anymore, which makes her stop the carriage with a violent pull of the reigns, making the horses grind on the cobblestones.

‘What… where did he go?’ she thought while gazing at the area where he stood; the pool of water still moves from the recent disturbance.

“Phew, that was close,” Xe’Reth sighed as his feet places themselves on the ground while he lets go of the handle at the back of the carriage. He had dashed forward and grabbed ahold of the back of the carriage as he saw Taryna wasn’t going to stop. A little wet are his clothes, but not the large sacks because he swung them up in the air so the water didn’t hit them. Though, they’re already wet, but he didn’t want more wetness to affect them.

“Xe’Reth…?” Malinda asked because of the voice she heard outside. As the door opens, she peeks out to see him there soaked to the clothes. “I thought it was you! Thank the Divine Queen that you haven’t returned from… I mean… Come in and dry yourself. Taryna continue towards his house.”

‘That handmaiden is not fun to be around with. Am I so loathed by her?’ Xe’Reth thought as he takes his first step into the carriage. He carefully squeezes the bags of Yran’Gilis inside while placing them on the opposite seats, turning the leather damp with the water that drips from the sacks.

Muttering noises comes from Taryna as she sees the door close, but with a, “Hiia!” she whips with her hands. The carriage starts to move while Xe’Reth sits down beside Malinda in a rather slumped way as he breathes out his worries.

“Xe’Reth! What happened to you?! Why do you have that injury?!” she yelled but with a low voice as the slight bloodied wound displays on Xe’Reth’s shoulder. Those azure eyes of hers scans his tired face of utter dismay.

“I was… attacked at the garden. It was… It was the DLO… Malinda. They’ve found it… They found my only source of sustaining my mother’s sanity,” Xe’Reth said with a wilting head and palms over his face, showing his complete misery. “I only managed to save some of the herbs… But they won’t last. Malinda, what am I going to do? Please… I… I don’t know what to do anymore…”

Malinda stares with eyes ajar as her mouth tightens upon seeing his despair. A hand, her beautiful hand touches the grief-stricken man’s hair. With a caress, Malinda pulls the man closer to her, feeling his watered hair which’s sticking out everywhere since he has had a rough day, a dreadful day… yet she can’t help but bring out a smile as her eyes relaxes.

Witnessing Xe’Reth in these kinds of positions makes her joyous for some reason, as if Malinda enjoys him relying on her for everything. Malinda can stubborn, moreover if she earnestly likes something that is hers. Hand stroke after hand stroke; Xe’Reth leans at her and she tilts her head while feeling that sensation of wetness hitting her powdered cheek.

“Tell me more about what happened, so I can figure out something to help you, no, help us,” Malinda whispered as Xe’Reth’s hair runs through her fingers. The scent fills her nostrils, making her calm as a sleeping child. “No, wait. Let me first tell you about what has happened while you were away. Hmm… ah, yes. I first went to the prison, but the daring Inquisitor had released that pig. So I went to the DLO, and well… The pig’s teeth were demolished by me while his daughter now knows what he truly is. And the Inquisitor will also help us find your perpetrators, because I have her under my fingertips. That woman has always been dreadfully proud, so putting her in her place felt… somewhat pleasant.”

“Then I went home to prepare everything for your arrival; a room for your mother with new furniture, which I do hope you’ll like. Oh, and I wrote a letter to my mother’s old friend who can help me setup the charity organization here in the city, she’s a professional. Ah, I almost forgot. We’ll be moving you and your mother today… You don’t mind that, right, Xe’Reth?” Malinda asked as she releases him from her clutching embrace to stare into those pure eyes of darkness.

With a shake of his head, it reduces Malinda’s worries of rejection because Xe’Reth gains a thankful expression on his whole face as it relaxes to show his loving emotions.

In his mind he can only pity himself. He’s actually cared for by Malinda to this extent. What does he have? Nothing… Nothing at all but a sick mother and a rundown house. And she has everything now that she got a lover. Though their current relationship is still that of a parent and child, for she’s taking care of everything while Xe’Reth is just deadweight that needs to be cared for. Xe’Reth doesn’t like it one bit, but he needs this. He has to suck it up, and stop feeling sorry for himself.

“I am too pathetic to be ever worthy of you, Malinda, but I will be damned if I don’t at least try to be,” Xe’Reth said as his eyes shows new life in them as the expression on his newly lit face bombards Malinda to make her sprout forth a gladdened smile. “I will bring you happiness, that I promise you, Malinda. With all my heart and soul, you’ll be mine, and I’ll be yours.”

Xe’Reth’s exhausted face of dismay vanished in a blink of an eye. To be replaced with such eyes of survival. With gazing eyes, they travel up and down at her seated body. Those furry clothes bring out her appeal too strongly for Xe’Reth at this moment. Just looking at a certain spot makes his heart pound. How could he ever find such a perfect woman as her…?

They sit there beside each other, staring into one another’s eyes, falling into the depths of the abyss. With Malinda’s hand being placed on Xe’Reth’s shoulder, he groans in pain as his face grimaces.

“Ah, I am sorry! Are you all right?!” Malinda startlingly asked as her hand recoils upon hearing those painful sounds. “That’s right… What happened Xe’Reth? You said something about the DLO? Tell me, I want to know everything.”

…………

“Sigh… It is good that you didn’t hurt them to much… But did they see you? Can they recognize you?” Malinda asked as Xe’Reth finished telling her about everything, not bothering to keep anything secret… to some extent at least.

“No, look.” He takes out his bandana and puts it on while covering his head with the hood. “See? The only thing they saw were my clothes, not even my black eyes. And as I used underhanded tactics, they were without difficulty put to sleep by the ball of Yran’Gilis I told you about. They won’t find out who it was that owned that garden… I am sure of it.”

“I can’t believe that you actually took down four agents and four DLO hounds… with one single ball… of Yran’Gilis.” Malinda said while holding her chin with squinting eyes while wondering if Xe’Reth is telling the truth or not. “You’ll have to show me how it work sometime. It is illegal… but I find it fascinating that such a weapon exist. Just think of the possibilities that can come from such a weapon; to render one’s enemies’ unconscious with a simple throw.”

“Well, the agents were in a clump. So I simply tossed it at them, and well, you know the rest,” Xe’Reth said while scratching his head in embarrassment for using such a crude method. But a lie nonetheless. “Thank you again Malinda for being such a wonderful woman. I can’t thank you enough for what you’re doing… Helping my mother out of this… this place means the world to me. The humid air of stench also reaches inside the house making the bacteria fester, maybe that’s why she hasn’t recovered. Or it’s just an incurable disease.”

“Don’t worry… m-my love… We will take it a step at a time,” Malinda said with hand on Xe’Reth’s cheek. “You’ll have to let Taryna take a look at that wound that you got from that bolt when one of the agents managed to shoot before they fell asleep.”

Xe’Reth waves his one hand while saying, “It’s only a flesh wound, nothing major. I’ve already cleaned it so it’s all right.”

With a “Hoo!” Taryna pulls the reigns to stop the horses; they’ve reached Xe’Reth’s house.

“Mm, we’re here. I’ll place these herbs inside my house for it’ll be the safest place. Don’t let Taryna go into the bedroom since she doesn’t seem to like me much,” Xe’Reth said with a forced smile.

“Don’t worry, she’ll warm up with time… Just give her some time,” she said with lowered eyebrows. “She doesn’t approve of you and me being together…”

“It is understandable, Malinda. You fell for me too quickly, and I fell for you quickly also. Heh, we’re both as love-struck, two love fools together. It is fitting,” Xe’Reth said with a chuckling grin. “Ah, but I am so glad that you’ve accepted me, and nobody else.”

“Ah… Me too… me t—”

*Knock, knock*

“Miss, we’re here!” Taryna said in a banging loud voice, trying to interrupt their alone time.

Malinda sighs for being disturbed while staring at the door, seeing Taryna in the window because the scarlet drapes aren’t covering it. As she shakes her head in exhaustion, Malinda pulls the furry hood over her head, then steps outside while being followed by Xe’Reth as he begins treading on the ground towards his house, to open the many locks on his single-hinged door.

“Ladies first,” Xe’Reth said with a gracious bow, supporting the large sacks on his uninjured shoulder, but his cloak now covers the injured one so Taryna doesn’t see the wound which would bring unwanted attention from her.

Malinda smiles happily at his jest of being a gentleman. She walks inside while chuckling silently to herself as Taryna shows no face other than an unamused expression of total conviction to her Miss. Though Taryna is also soaked to the bone like Xe’Reth since the driving gave her no shelter from the rain.

“I’ll start up the fire. Taryna you can sit down in the meanwhile because you’re completely wet. Just relax and let me handle the work,” Malinda said while guiding Taryna to one of the two chairs by the table.

“Miss?! No, I can’t le—.”

“You sit there and be silent. When you hear the wagons outside you can get up, otherwise I’ll get mad at you. Do you understand?” Malinda retorted as her eyes stares at the now sitting Taryna with tenacious fortitude while having hands on her shoulders, forcing her down.

“As my Miss commands of me,” Taryna said with a drooping head as droplets of liquid stains the wooden floor with dark spots. Her bun-styled hair has flaming strings pointing out in various directions, showing how the weather has affected her.

“Good,” Malinda said while clapping cheerfully at Taryna’s shoulders with her hands.

……………

The stove fire is now lit, the brought up remaining candles are now lit, and the entire kitchen is now lit up in brightness, showing the closed bedroom door fully; the furniture that had hid it away has been moved to their original spots.

Taryna sits on the chair obediently while having her rain cloak tightly wrapped around her body, trying to keep the cold moisture at bay. Malinda hums a tune to herself as she pokes the stove fire with a metal stick, feeling the warmth coming out from it. But she isn’t cold, she’s rather warm in her furry clothes.

“They should be here soon. Xe’Reth!” Malinda shouted while standing up, to move towards the bedroom door which’s closed. As he doesn’t respond, her hand pulls down the handle and goes inside, then closes it behind her since Malinda doesn’t want Taryna to see the goods inside.

“Xe’Reth?” she asked with worried lowered eyebrows as he sits there beside his mother, unmoving, looking at the scarred Theresa with lost-in-thought eyes. She asks again, “Xe’Reth, are you all right?”

He turns his upper body as a hand feels his own forehead, but nothing, no warmth seeps into his palm. He’s fine, only the exhaustion is getting the better of him. ‘I should’ve slept longer. It seems all of this blood loss has made me weak. No! I must stay alert!’ Xe’Reth thought as he puts up a smile to rid Malinda of her frowning brows of worry.

“Sorry Malinda, did you say something? It has been a somewhat rough day for me…” Xe’Reth said as he begins to breathe a little heavier with half-opened eyes to show his exhausted expression. “The break-in… The running to the mountain… The DLO finding my garden… I… I’m sorry, things have been moving too quickly for my brain to respond to this kind of weight. But, I am thankful that I have you here with me, Malinda.”

With outstretched arms, he initiates for Malinda to come and hug him, which she does, one step at a time. Xe’Reth stands up to embrace her with all his might, to show her that he really depends on her warmth to keep going. And Malinda does the same with head being placed on his shoulder while her arms are hanging around his neck. Her ample breasts are pressed on his chest which makes him feel the sensation of pure suppleness.

“Oh Xe’Reth… You’ll make me cry again if you speak in such a sorrowful tone. Please, don’t say anything anymore. I don’t want you to feel pain and worry. I will not allow it, because you’ve felt it for too long now,” Malinda said as her head still remains on his shoulder, though her expression shows that she wants to cry with those twitching lips, but she holds it in. “Xe’Reth… You should ready yourself and your mother for departure. We’ll begin to pack down the most sensitive equipment in your possession, and well, the illegal ones need to be hidden away safely. We better start to move them now.”

Malinda releases herself from his embrace to stare into his eyes while smiling to reassure Xe’Reth that everything will be all right. Her powdered face has been slightly smudged but she doesn’t see it, only Xe’Reth, though he stays silent as his hand touches a hair-lock and swipes it behind her ear while his index finger caresses it until it reaches the earlobe, making Malinda shiver from the touch that fills her heart to the fullest.

“Yes, let us start with the packing. Together,” Xe’Reth said as he smiles with a tilting head. With a clasp of her one hand, he brings her with him to a shelve that has many various herbs. “Nothing on this shelf is illegal, so you can begin taking them down and place them on the table. I’ll take care of the more delicate herbs that isn’t so legal.”

Malinda only nods while giving out a smiling, “Mm.”

……………

The light, that brightness which is the life of the planet comes through the brooding clouds to reveal the autumn’s sun. The rooftops drips water onto the ground and the poor people begins to leave their houses. But, beside one house stands four wagons, large ones with horses in front while a golden carriage is by the house in question.

With a clank, two pair of plate boots are now placed on the cobblestone of wetness, mud, and solidity. The heavy-armored woman gazes at the area where her Honored Miss ordered her to go. Those eyes of indifference show no disgust, nothing, only the eyes of someone who has seen far too much to be moved by this location where the poor people live.

“Battle-Mistress, which house was it that the Honored Miss said she’s in?” a servant of the Tertin family asked while looking around the area, feeling somewhat disgusted at how casually people can live in this kind of rotten place, but she doesn’t show it, only a motionless expression displays upon the servants.

“Finally, you’re here. What took you so damn long?” Taryna asked as the door to Xe’Reth’s house opened up, showing Taryna’s displease on her frowning eyebrows and that mouth of curved down lips. “Well? Your Honored Miss is waiting for the boxes, so chop, chop.”

“Taryna, why are you in such a foul mood? It doesn’t suit you at all,” Recina said while crossing her plated arms as her head shakes in a shameful manner. “I would guess that it is about Malinda’s lover, yes?”

“And what if it is? I don’t like him at all, he’s but a scoundrel who takes our Miss’s love only because it helps him get out of this rotten place,” Taryna said sneeringly with a raised lip of revulsion.

“Hold your cursing tongue, Taryna, or I’ll have it cut out!” Recina shouted with a threatening forward step. “Our Honored Miss has chosen him, so you have to accept that. No, you must accept that, otherwise it will be seen as utter disloyalty.”

The Tertin servants stands beside the wagons while loading off the boxes. They hear the conversation between their two peers. Though no words escapes from the servants’ mouths as they place the boxes outside Xe’Reth’s house on top of each other. But, when they return to the citadel, their mouths will be flapping open, spreading every word throughout the entire servants’ quarters, because gossip is the only pastime those servants have.

“How can you be so utterly relaxed about this?! You haven’t even met him!” Taryna retorted with violent waving hand gestures.

“That can be dealt with quite easily right now, can’t it?” Recina responded with a shaking head while tapping one gauntleted hand on Taryna’s shoulder as she moves towards Xe’Reth’s house. Then she disappears inside, leaving Taryna there with the moving servants who’re wet from the rain.

The servants are all women. They wear the regular self-made servants’ clothes. It is like the handmaiden’s; it goes to their feet with a long embroidered dress, and with long tight sleeves that’re folded up once to show their hands. No skin other than from their neck up and hands shows while a black rain cloak covers the whole body. The hairstyles of the women vary; loose, braided, bun, short, and long. Truly, those servants has had a good life.

As the Battle-Mistress, Recina, stands on the wooden floor inside Xe’Reth’s house, she gazes at the poor looking kitchen with unfazed eyes, completely calm. Then, the bedroom door opens up and Malinda comes out carrying various glass containers while seeing the heavy-plated woman by the front door.

Recina bows as they make eye-contact while saying, “My Honored Miss, the wagons you asked for are outside with boxes that’re being placed by the front door.”

“Ah Recina, good,” Malinda replied happily as she places the glass jars on the overflowing kitchen table. A sigh escapes from her mouth while wiping her forehead since both Xe’Reth and her has fixed everything that’s needed for the departure.

Because the house is so small, nothing really needs to be packed down. Malinda had also said to Xe’Reth that all of his furniture are going to be replaced anyways so she managed to convince him to leave them here for the time being, until he has settled down at the citadel, though everything that isn’t going with them now will probably remain for the ones who buys this house after he leaves with his mother.

While looking up and down at Malinda, Recina’s eyes stares as if she sees something for the first time. Malinda’s furry garb has been removed while only the thin blouse displays on her gorgeous body fully; her somewhat firm but ample bosoms, her flawless light skinned complexion on her sleeved up arms, and her tightly fit black pants features all of her lower curves.

“My Honored Miss, you shouldn’t be so openly dressed!” Recina said in a loud voice while showing worry upon her raised eyebrows. For someone so proud and principled, Recina deeply cares about how her Miss shows herself in the public. Malinda would usually be in her armor most of the time, but not this time, this time it’s as if she wants to show her everything to someone, and that someone comes out of the bedroom with hands free with two pair of wide eyes staring at the armored woman.

“Ah, Xe’Reth. Let me introduce you to, Recina Vecteri, the Battle-Mistress of the Tertin family, and my eldest handmaiden,” Malinda introduced with a hand pointing at Recina while having white teeth favorably showing upon her smiling mouth.

‘Oh mother, she’s much harder on the eye than I thought she would be,’ Xe’Reth thought with a bob of his head to recognize her powerful presence which fills the air inside the kitchen.

“It is an honor to meet you, Recina Vecteri. I am Xe’Reth Quinery, the man who’s blessed enough to be accepted by your Miss, Malinda Tertin,” Xe’Reth said without showing any fear for the woman who stands before him. A monster more powerful than Malinda, but why would he be scared of a retired legend? He isn’t, Xe’Reth only shows true eyes of respect and a slight smile on his sinister lips. “I have heard many stories of you, and about your battles when you were still in the field of battle by the Ebon Wall. It is truly a shame that you retired so early, for I would’ve liked to see you in action. But, unfortunately I was born too late and wasn’t able to join the army soon enough to see your glory days.”

Recina is completely baffled at this young man’s reverence of herself. With wide open eyes she manages to close them to relax her whole face to reveal a regular unfazed expression, but a small curve upwards displays on one side of her mouth.

‘Stories? What stories? I never told stories about my days by the Ebon Wall's middle gate,' Recina thought as surprise actually penetrates her hard-headed mind. ‘But… This young man knows how to flatter a woman at least, no wonder Malinda fell for him. You little brat, you’re a crafty one, aren’t you?’

“Well, well, look at that. Humph. You truly know how to pick them, my Honored Miss. And of course it is also an honor to meet the man who Malinda has chosen, hehe. You’ve no idea how happy I’m to be able to see my Mistress’s daughter finding a man with such a vigorous mouth.”

“Indeed, I like you, boy. You may be from common stock, but I will look forward to get to know you, Sir Xe’Reth Quinery. Though, I’ll not call you Honored until the knots have been tied around your fates,” Recina said with crossed arms and a nodding head of approval, being quite gladdened about this young man. “Hmm, now that I take a better look at you, you have the bearing of someone who’s proud to the bone, and a well-trained body. In fact, too trained of a body. Never doing anything half-assed like myself, huh? You have known life to the fullest, but… is that a blessing or is it a calamity I wonder…”

‘A wound also?’ Recina thought but she puts away such thoughts for now.

“A blessing for sure, Battle-Mistress. If I wouldn’t have lived my life as I’ve done up to now, I would’ve never met Malinda,” Xe’Reth said with a chuckle as his hand touches Malinda’s shoulder, which makes Malinda move closer to him while she snuggles into his arms, pressing her bosoms onto his chest.

“Of course it is a blessing, Recina! He might look a little vicious but he’s as kind as a lamb, though a lamb with razor-sharp teeth that defends that which is his,” Malinda said giving Recina a warm smile while letting go of Xe’Reth to straighten herself. “And that’s that. We better start with the packing before it gets to late. Recina, tell the others to bring in boxes and start filling them with the things on the kitchen table.”

“As you wish, Honored Miss,” Recina said with a turn of her creaking armored body, then as the servants and Taryna sees her coming out, she says while pointing, “Your Honored Miss has given you a duty. Bring in the boxes and start filling them with the equipment on the table inside the house. On with it!”

The servants curtsy simultaneously in acknowledgement and begins to walk into the house, one by one with a box in their hands.

While packing down the various possessions of Xe’Reth’s, the servants tries to take a sneak peek into the bedroom, but the door is only a quarter opened, so they sigh out in utter failure. They’ll just have to wait until the man himself comes out of his house, to see Malinda’s lover.

With the necessary equipment, herbs, and alchemy supplies packed down, the rest of the furniture will be left behind, not even one wagon is fully loaded, which makes Xe’Reth quite uncomfortable because he has to rely on Malinda’s fortune for everything.

“Are you sure it’s okay to not bring anything else with me? I mean, it looks like I’m using you if I only bring my supplies that I need for my mother,” he bites his lip. “People will probably never take me serious if I become too reliant on you for everything.”

“Oh, Xe’Reth, Xe’Reth, Xe’Reth…” Malinda said while sighing with a shaking head. “You worry too much. Many men and women have married into wealth; commoners being fancied by nobles, and nobles being fancied by commoners. It just needs one single spark to light the heart on fire with love. Who cares about what others think of you. In a couple of years, you’ll be used to being pampered in wealth, just give it time. And well, I’m going to make you even more eye-catching when I am through with you; new clothes! New armor! And everything you want!”

“Listen Xe’Reth. My fortune… I haven’t touched it at all, and I,” she chuckles while covering her mouth, “I get one third of the remaining taxes after our family has given the percentage to the kingdom. I am even richer than my other two siblings. And since my brother is the family head, he of course has to pay more than me and my sister, though we do pay a small fee every month.”

“But compared to what my brother pays, it is nothing. While my dear sister however, is an excessive spender of exquisite merchandise. She only wants the best, and that has made her somewhat famous in the city’s boutiques. She buys the finest new trending jewelry, clothes, and furniture. Dear Divine, you should see her wing of the castle, it is truly magnificent, a paradise. But my point is, it doesn’t matter how much you’re given. You and I, that’s what matters, nothing else, not the people’s thoughts, only you and me, okay Xe’Reth?” Malinda said with her hands clasped onto his, giving Xe’Reth her complete support.

“Alright Malinda, I get it. But thankfully if people do look down on me, I have complete immunity. Because I’ve been looked upon by all of the faces a person can make,” Xe’Reth said with a squeezing clasp of his hands, which makes her nod in relief. “Though, I wouldn’t mind being pampered by you… Malinda.”

“Xe’Reth…!” Malinda said with a slap on his uninjured shoulder, teasingly, as Xe’Reth retreats back while putting his hands up in defeat. “Oh you’ll be pampered alright, just you wait. It has only been one day, and the upcoming days will be even more harder. Many objectives to do. But how should we handle your mother?”

“Where will we be dropped off?” Xe’Reth asked as he switches his eyes to his mother. “Because… I don’t want people to look at her… And I don’t think my mother wants to be looked upon by others.”

“What do you mean?” she asked with eyes flickering.

“My mother’s body is scarred from the disease; her face, her hands, and everything is damaged. If you had the same appearance as my mother, would you want people looking at you? And how would you feel to see the pity in those eyes?” He looks back at Malinda. “My mother is in too much pain to worry about how she looks, but just a simple glance of utter sadness from a person she doesn’t even know, can ruin her held up fortitude… So I want to bring her in where none can stare at her. Is there a way to do that, Malinda?”

“Certainly, of course. We’ll drive the carriage to the east side of the castle. When we’re there, we only need to walk up the flight of stairs to my wing. It’s a side entrance, made for my servants. But it’ll be good enough to get your mother into her prepared room, which I do hope has been cleaned up for her arrival,” Malinda said with a worrisome frown on her thin arched eyebrows.

‘I hope Tanya will be fast enough in bringing back the furniture and the bed for Xe’Reth’s mother,’ she thought with trouble upon her mind as a daze oozes inside. ‘If I remember correctly… The castle healer had cleaned the wounds, put on ointments, and had bandaged my parents. Xe’Reth has also done that, but with a lot more effort put into it.’

“Malinda…?” Xe’Reth asked, waving his hand in front of Malinda’s eyes.

“Oh… sorry,” she said as the troublesome thoughts disappears.

Xe’Reth’s palm touches her forehead as her eyes widens in surprise, “No fever, good. Seems like you’re also exhausted by all of this.”

“Yes… I do feel a little tired, but! I am strong-willed! So I’ll handle it,” Malinda said with an inhale of air, then with an exhale she holds her head high, and unaffected by the tiredness. Though as Malinda stares with clear eyes at Xe’Reth’s uninjured lip, she raises an eyebrow. “Wait a moment… Where has your lip wound gone?”

‘Oh shit…’ Xe’Reth simply thought.

Thanks for reading this somewhat relaxing Chapter!

The release of Chapters depends on how my week looks. I'll know tomorrow on Monday if I'll be able to release every two days, or if not, it will probably be one or two Chapters per week.

Voice your thoughts.

It is going slow, I know, but it won't speed up since I like the pace. And well, Harem? Is a love triangle, harem or not? :D I don't know. But as it stands now, it won't turn into a harem. Harem involves romance, and well, there won't be that many women to romance, but who knows... I can't say for sure. Sure there will be probably woman who fancies him, but that doesn't mean Xe'Reth has to respond to those feelings, would he dare anger Malinda and put his mother in danger? No, I don't think he would.

The kingdom looks at harem as we do in real life. It isn't exactly normal. It is even written in one of the Chapters. :P

Until next time!

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